Top 10 Greatest Jethro Tull Guitar Riffs (1969-1971) [Guitar Lesson, Song Analysis, Classic Rock]

In this episode, we review the top 10 greatest guitar riffs from Jethro Tull. This band has so many great riffs that we are going to have to do a 2nd episode! For our first installment, we focus on the early period from 1969-1971 which covers the albums: Stand Up, Benefit, and Aqualung. This is the period when Martin Barre joined the band and the music started to move in a decidedly more progressive direction (and away from the early jazz and blues leanings).

I discuss the riffs and all their nuances as well as the quirky meters that are quintessentially Jethro Tull. You'll notice during the middle of the episode I switch guitars. This is owing to a neck issue that popped up on my Les Paul #1 during the shoot. As a result, my tobacco finished Les Paul #2 makes her world premiere on the channel!

I also have to mention that I have had an extensive career in progressive rock dating back to my band Syzygy and more recently to my band BALDASSARRE. I've often written pieces in the style of Jethro Tull and I would encourage you to check out my album "Collinwood Yards". One track in particular entitled, "Coin a Phrase" has everything you'd ever want in a Jethro Tull styled track: Great riff, phenomenal lyrics (thank you Will Shakespeare!), a Renaissance-era musical breakdown, a Martin Barre styled solo, and a very catchy Tull-like outro!

Use Promo Code [20offcarlbaldassarre] for 20% off any purchase for a limited time only!

Episode Track listing:
1. A New Day Yesterday (Stand Up)
2. Sweet Dreams (Stand Up)
3. Son (Benefit)
4. To Cry You A Song (Benefit)
5. Play in Time (Benefit)
6. Aqualung (Aqualung)
7. Cross-Eyed Mary (Aqualung)
8. My God (Aqualung)
9. Hymn 43 (Aqualung)
10. Wind Up (Aqualung)

0:00 Intro
0:30 Riff #1
2:44 Riff #2
6:43 Riff #3
8:50 Riff #4
12:21 Riff #5
14:28 Riff #6
16:01 Riff #7
18:06 Riff #8
23:26 Riff #9
28:07 Riff #10
31:28 Conclusion

#CarlBaldassarre #JethroTull #GuitarLesson

[nyrocks]

Finally, someone giving props to the genius of Martin Barre!

[dustylense]

Martin Barre is so underrated. This is awesome!

[joebloggs]

I've seen Tull many times, seen Ian "solo" 3 times and I've seen The Martin Barre ban twice( great, great band), Martin is so humble, he and his wife talked to myself and my wife for 20 minutes after a show seeing his band...great guy who is so much better than I think history realizes.

[yoyo]

Love Jethro Tull. Martin Barre is so underrated that is beyond my comprehension. Thanks for breaking this down, Carl and don't stop, there's people here waiting for more. This channel is a gem.

[vabriga]

"To cry you a song" - one of my favorite JT riffs.

[stppnwlf]

The solo in Aqualung was one of the handful of guitar parts that made me decide I had to learn to play the guitar.
His vibrato and the phrasing is just immaculate.

[guacamolekid]

The solos on Back Door Angels are some of Barre's best work in my opinion, and that's saying something. You're an awesome player yourself! Amazing!

[rockinvida]

Have you done an episode on the Anderson/Barre masterpiece “Minstrel In The Gallery?” If not - would love to see that! The guitar playing by Martin is absolutely stunning on that one…thanks for your awesome channel!

[MarionJInce]

Excellent presentation! I'm a big Tull fan and glad Martin Barre is getting some notice! One of my favorite Jethro Tull songs, off Stand Up, is "We used to know" because of Martin's fantastic guitar work. I really enjoyed your lesson and analysis. I hope you will continue with JT guitar riffs part 2!

[cletuschrist]

Man, it's nice to see Barre get some attention. As acclaimed as Jethro Tull is, it's still seemingly underrated. In particular, Barre's ability to arrange guitar parts so they're punchy and don't get mushed up into all the piano and vocal riffing can't be understated. Tull puts on an absolute clinic in arrangement up through War Child.

[swatprof]

Fantastic! I also grew up with Tull, so this was gold for me. And I completely agree that both Anderson and Barre are brilliant guitarists that deserve more recognition. Suggestions for more from this period: “For a Thousand Mothers”, “Driving Song”, “Nothing Is Easy”, “Teacher”, “Nothing to Say”, “From Later”.

[sedleyjensen]

Dude, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this video. Thank you! Jethro Tull is my all time favorite band. I've been listening to them since before I started learning to play guitar. And I've been playing guitar now for over 50 years. Martin Barre is one of my favorite guitarist, if not my absolute favorite! He is so underrated!! And your playing is fantastic! You are nailing all the little nuances that most people miss. As a musician, I know, Jethro Tull's music is difficult to play. So, thank you for this!

[omarazzaoui]

the solo on hymn 43 is one of my favorite Martin Barre solos can't get enough listening to it I think is one of the best solos short and sweet.

[mikec]

Mr. Carl B.
I am extremely impressed by everything about you and your playing.

Just pure excellence across the board.

[jedsmith]

Brilliant playing! Nice to see Tull, especially Martin, get well deserved recognition. Tab for these riffs and solos is difficult or impossible to find. Martin's new band is restoring the energy of older live concerts, sans flute.

Pibroch (Cap in Hand) and sections of Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play feature Martin's powerful contributions to these masterpieces.

[gustavegflaubert]

Thank you this expose was very generous of you! Jethro Tull was one of my favorite bands when I was a teenager. I saw them twice at the Montreal forum. The first show was Thick as a brick the second was Passion play. Both shows were fantastic.

Ciao

[rjrj]

Wonderfull ...loved it! The always creative, never repeating (out of over 20 albums), and often complex riffs and/or dramatic melodies of Ian Anderson & Martin barre are the best. This vid really pulls them out and highlights them perfectly. Thank you so much for doing this!

[cogitarecerdo]

Martin Barre has an incredible, idiosyncratic sense of rhythm. He and Anderson were a great match in that respect.

[ricenglish]

Carl, you are some kind of player. I almost feel as if I'm listening to Martin and he's my all-time favorite guitarist. You hit just about everyone of my favorite Martin riff's on those first 3 Tull albums. Except for "For A Thousand Mothers" and "Locomotive Breath, " you nail them all. I love your Gibson Sunburst and the Marshall amps. I'm a vest man myself, but I wish I had your hair. It's nice to see someone else appreciate Martin's legendary playing. I've always loved that barking sound he gets out of his guitar. By the way, that "Coin A Phrase" is some kind of great song. I love the Tull feel to it. Nice going, Carl, that was really fun to watch. I'll be playing all 3 of those albums tonight in my "Rock Session" sitting outside.

[claytonphelps]

Love your videos, happy upbeat presentation, great riffs, it's all great. Please keep this going, I believe your audience will grow exponentially. Rock on Carl and watch this channel grow. Awesome. Your personality and approach to all this is awesome.